The head of MINUSMA alerts the international community that civilians “pay the price” of terrorism in Mali

13 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The representative of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), El Ghassim Wane, has alerted the United Nations Security Council of the consequences for civilians due to the insecurity situation marked by terrorist violence.

“Civilians pay the price for the outbreak of terrorist violence,” declared the UN representative in the African country.

Wane, who has explained the situation of the progress of the transition to a civilian government after the 2020 coup, has focused on insecurity and growing humanitarian needs.

In this regard, he indicated that the security crisis in the Ménaka region, in the northeast of the country, has worsened in recent months, while he regretted that there has been a resurgence of clashes between terrorists, who carry out “constant attacks” against civilians.

The head of the mission has affirmed that the operations of the Malian Army have interrupted the terrorist activities in the center of the country, but these groups have dispersed to several neighboring regions.

Thus, it has estimated that more than 30,000 displaced persons have taken refuge in the city of Ménaka, while MINUSMA has 2,400 displaced persons in a refugee camp.

“The flow of internally displaced persons has increased the pressure on the humanitarian response, with populations in urgent need of clean water, food and medicine, and shelter,” he said. “Listening to these displaced people literally asking us for drinking water was a shocking experience,” she added.

However, he has highlighted the progress achieved, despite the fact that they are “below expectations”, after “a decade of intense international participation”. “These advances show that with the sustained involvement of the international community and the commitment of Mali’s stakeholders, the situation can be turned around,” he added.

“This is a unique position that must continue to be taken advantage of, given the importance of Mali’s stability for the region and beyond,” he declared, assuring that the UN “offers the best framework to support the lasting stabilization” of the region, in association with other organizations.